Man common problems and MOT failures
From 11,102 MOT tests in 2024, 11.7% of Man vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.
Top Man MOT failure reasons
| # | Problem | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 245 |
| 2 | transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 191 |
| 3 | tyre seriously damaged | 167 |
| 4 | brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 134 |
| 5 | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements | 127 |
| 6 | windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 120 |
| 7 | lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 112 |
| 8 | tyre tread depth outside legal limits | 98 |
| 9 | rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 85 |
| 10 | direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 74 |
What this means if you're buying a Man
The single most common MOT failure for Man is engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, accounting for 18% of all failure items.
These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Man vehicles. If you're viewing a used Man, it's worth checking these areas specifically.
Buying a specific Man? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.
Check MOT history on GOV.UK